Name: Michael Fitzgerald
Age: 64
Occupation: Retired Nurse
Where are you from? How long have you lived in Ketchikan?
I grew up in the University district in Seattle. After that, I lived in Scottsdale, Arizona, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Salt Lake City, Utah and Pensacola, Florida. I’ve lived in Ketchikan now for 32 years.
What is your community involvement, past and present?
I enjoyed serving the Elder population for over 15 years as the Nurse Manager of New Horizons Transitional Care Unit. I recently finished out my 31-year career at PeaceHealth serving in the Oncology Clinic and Infusion Suite. As a Nurse serving this community, I have been involved in many people’s lives during their most vulnerable moments. It is a calling that I recognize as a privileged honor.
I served a 3 year-term on the Ketchikan School Board when my 3 children were going to school here. This was during the Robert Boyle tenure—probably the last time the School District operated in the black.
I have been active for 30 years in the performing arts here in Ketchikan with First City Players and the Community Chorus.
I’ve been both a Coach and a Unified Partner in Special Olympics for over 20 years.
I assist my Wife in operating an Assisted Living Facility caring for adults with developmental disabilities.
My responsibilities at church include serving the disadvantaged and mentoring youth and young adults.
Have you previously run for public office? When and what office?
I was elected to the School Board for a 3 years term back when the District was operating within its budget. I then ran for Borough Assembly, in hopes of providing more favorable funding for the School District—at the time the Borough was not funding the District to the cap—unfortunately I was not elected.
Why are you running for city council?
I am a concerned citizen of this unique island community who has been around awhile and seen a few things. I raised my kids here. My entire career in healthcare was here at the hospital. I intend to live here until the day I die. As much as I yearn for “the good ol’ days”, Ketchikan faces challenges that require change. I am running for City Council because I want to assure that it changes in ways that will help maintain the things that we cherish about this magical place we call home. I am now retired and have the opportunity to serve and the life experience to make a positive difference.
What are your top priorities if elected?
My biggest motivation for seeking a seat on the Council is to bring greater accountability to PeaceHealth’s delivery of healthcare in our community. I have been distressed to witness the systematic dismantling of safety and quality improvement efforts at the hospital over the last decade. I am convinced that PeaceHealth has been slowly draining resources away from Ketchikan in support of their larger facilities down South. The City Council’s administration and oversight of the City’s lease of the hospital is the only leverage we have to assure that the citizens of Ketchikan have safe and effective healthcare with the quality we would choose rather than being forced to accept what’s being offered. I don’t fault our current leadership for the lack of accountability to date—unfortunately PeaceHealth has been very opaque in their reporting to the Council such that the Council doesn’t know what they don’t know. With my unique personal and professional understanding of this issue, I hope to bring a greater level of awareness of and accountability for the delivery of excellent healthcare to our community.
What is your stance on the ballot proposition asking for the transfer of library powers?
I understand the disagreement over the funding and management of the library. It seems clear that Borough residents have been asked to bear a portion of the responsibility for funding the library while having a diminished ability to have a say in its management. It also is clear that the increasing costs of running the library have become unsustainable on their current trajectory.
If the ballot measure passes, ownership of the library would immediately switch from the City to the Borough. I support the library and want it to be fully funded through a new agreement, but I am in favor of having the process of transferring ownership be more orderly than what the ballot measure proposes.
Do you think the city is doing an adequate job keeping up with infrastructure and community needs that come with increasing tourism? If not, what steps should be taken to address it?
Like everyone else, I am extremely concerned about the congestion and intrusion caused by the burgeoning tourism industry. We seem to have been caught flat-footed by the swelling numbers and the business community’s response to the increased demand. I am sympathetic to the voices that demand limits be placed on the disruptions we all have been experiencing. While I am not convinced that it would be a good idea to simply cap the number of tourists we would allow—why kill the goose that laid the golden egg?—I am convinced that we can implement strategies that would assure that Ketchikan sees an increased benefit and decreased negative impact from every visitor. I would bring a common-sense approach and a critical analysis of issues that would help prioritize competing interests. This appears to (so far) have been lacking.
What are ways the city council can address the housing affordability crisis?
By encouraging investment in and new building of low-cost housing and discouraging—or at least increasing fees and taxes on—the trend of converting private residences to short stay rentals. VRBO vacation rentals have a place in Ketchikan’s economy, but there has to be a way to offset the loss of housing.
How do you think the city should continue to fund capital improvement projects?
Every project must be carefully considered from the perspective of getting the biggest bang for the buck for Ketchikan. We may need to consider privatizing some things. I will apply a microscope to every proposal to assure an improvement serves the most residents at the lowest cost.
Describe one piece of legislation you would like to bring forward as a council member, and explain how you think it should be funded.
I would propose a Healthcare Ombudsman position that would serve to field the community’s concerns regarding healthcare in our community and act as a liaison with PeaceHealth and other healthcare providers to resolve complaints and assure accountability. I would propose that it be funded by PeaceHealth.
